Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

For an adult, the strip of cloth is only enough to wrap around two arms, but for an 8-year-old child, it can cover the entire upper body.

Shirou looked at himself in the mirror with satisfaction: Hmm, now I don't have to worry about being cut in half at the waist.

"Ahem... Shirou, I also have something to give you."

Irisviel beckoned the boy over, then took a golden scabbard from her chest.

"Avalon...?"

Shirou was taken aback: Didn't you already hand it over to Saber for safekeeping? Why is it inside you?

Irisviel briefly explained the situation.

At the time, she was feeling unwell due to Rider's defeat, and Saber forcibly inserted the scabbard of the holy sword into her body.

This seemingly unintentional act allowed Saber to retain her strongest Noble Phantasm before it was taken away.

"I see. It seems we weren't completely without luck after all."

"Shirou, shall I help you put Avalon inside you?"

"No, that's not necessary."

"what do you mean?"

"Irisviel should keep the scabbard; you are the one who should be protected by it."

Shirou said, "If Saber were still alive, she would definitely think the same way."

Irisviel bit her lip upon hearing this: "But... how are you going to fight Archer and Saber without a scabbard?"

"To be honest, the fact that Saber, who has become an enemy, doesn't need to use her sword sheath is already the biggest gain."

Even if he activates the "Dead Count Shapeshifter," Shirou isn't confident he can defeat Saber, who possesses both the Holy Sword's sheath and the Holy Grail's power.

The strongest defensive artifact in the world, plus a holy sword turret with infinite magic power... Just thinking about it sends chills down Shirou's spine.

The scabbard should indeed be kept to protect Irisviel.

The problem is how to fight the Hero King and the Knight King consecutively without using the sword sheath as a means of recovery.

Shirou had a feeling that his final battle with Archer should be over in a very short time.

That guy was undoubtedly the strongest, but he wasn't a true warrior; he could be killed with a single blow.

Although Gilgamesh cunningly spreads self-defense Noble Phantasms around himself during battle, Shirou has already figured out the operating logic of those defensive Noble Phantasms after their brief encounter last time.

Consume one Dead Count Shapeshifter on Archer to send the Hero King back to the Throne of Heroes.

The remaining one will be used to deal with Saber.

To be honest... Saber, who uses the Holy Grail to summon demons, is more difficult to deal with than Archer, at least in Shirou's opinion.

Shirou could even imagine her fighting style—

The Holy Sword, embodying the truth that "Simple is best," fires indefinitely.

After much thought, the only option left was to resort to underhanded tactics.

In the Fairy Kingdom, before Shirou grew into the strongest knight, he used many underhanded methods to defeat troublesome enemies.

He didn't care much about the process in order to achieve final victory.

But this time——

"I know that days like this can't go on forever, and in the end only one group will be able to lift the Holy Grail."

Although Shirou says he has no interest in the Holy Grail, I have no intention of shamelessly letting that kid give it up for nothing.

After all the other magicians and Servants have left the stage... at that point, I will formally challenge Shirou to a duel—

Whether that child desires the Holy Grail or relinquishes it, he must first ask my sword.

I remembered the words I overheard in the bathroom that day.

Saber longs for a fair duel with Shirou.

Shirou is the same.

This was her wish, and his wish as well.

"it is good……"

Shirou took a deep breath and made a decision.

Here comes the problem.

Having given up half of my magic power to the King of Heroes, am I really capable of facing her head-on?

Imagining the endless barrage of Excalibur, Shirou gave a wry smile.

I haven't felt this chilling sensation, this goosebumps, for a long time.

He deduced the tactics and also envisioned the scenario where the tactics would be countered.

Ten, twenty, and so on, were conceived in an instant, but were then discarded one by one. The plan was eventually reduced to five, then three, and through continuous refinement, the most feasible tactics were finally devised.

This was something Shirou was very familiar with.

As the nameless king who conquered the fairy kingdom, making decisions on the spot was only natural.

Without much effort, Shirou finalized the overall strategy for tonight.

Just then, Shirou's communicator rang.

The person displayed on the frequency band is Webber Wilvet.

Ah... speaking of which, he was given a communicator during that joint operation.

"It's me, Waver. Shinji, are you still alive?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Didn't we just meet last night?"

"That's true, you're not the kind of guy who dies so easily."

A sigh came from the other end of the communicator.

"Seriously, that Rider guy... he made a big promise to me that he would definitely come back!"

Shirou didn't know how to comfort him.

It would be easier if it were a girl, but he doesn't have much experience in comforting boys.

"Idiot! You think I came here seeking your comfort? I'm not depressed at all!"

Weber said this aloud, as if he were simultaneously admonishing himself.

"Rider upheld his kingly way until the very end! As his Master, I feel extremely satisfied!"

"I have no regrets about this Holy Grail War! Ah, now I can return to the Clock Tower in peace! Hahahaha!"

Weber laughed for a while, then fell silent.

At that moment, Shirou suddenly said, "Rider's battle is over, but Waver... your battle is not over yet."

"what?"

Shirou: "Why do you think Archer would spare your life?"

Weber: "Well... of course, it was overwhelmed by my overwhelming genius!"

"Fool, if Rider's Master wasn't you, they might have won."

"Shinji, you bastard, you actually said that?! !!! That's something you should never say!!!!"

Weber let out a piercing scream, but Shirou ignored it and continued speaking.

"You were of no help to Rider, yet he still brought you to the final battle."

Because Rider wants you to witness all of this, and hopes you can learn something from it.

The reason Archer spared you was out of respect for Rider, tacitly granting the Conqueror King's last wish—"

Shirou said calmly, "Wave, keep it up."

One day, I will become a magus worthy of being the Master of Iskandar, the King of Conquerors.

"..."

Silence followed on the other end of the communicator.

After a while, the sound of a boy sobbing could be heard.

"Idiot... I would have done it even if you hadn't told me..."

After crying for a while, Weber hurriedly ended the call, saying he had to catch his flight back to London.

Incidentally, the kidnapped McGiken couple were also returned, probably at the behest of the Hero King.

"Goodbye then, and remember to say hello if you ever come to London."

"By the way... after spouting so many lofty principles, don't lose in the end, Shinji."

After hanging up the call, Shirou looked out the window; it was already evening.

"Alright... let's go then."

Shirou led Irisviel and Hassan Hyakko to the door.

"Madam, please be careful... Shirou too."

Sera and Lizziet bowed deeply, while little Hassan waved her hand.

Shirou nodded to them, then turned and walked into the twilight.

----------

Volume 1, Chapter 96: The shiny pork knuckle is gone again! How inhumane!

At 7:30 p.m., Shirou and his group arrived at the foot of the mountain.

Although they were still within the city limits, the surroundings were deathly silent, as if they had entered a demonic realm ruled by the Queen of Bodysuits.

The silence was broken by the footsteps of Shirou and Irisviel.

“It’s over there.”

As Shirou spoke, he looked up at the mountaintop.

Mount Enzo is the largest spiritual vein in Fuyuki City. As early as 180 years ago, the three starter families set up the altar for the Greater Grail in a natural cave in the mountain.

As the land provider, the Tohsaka family could have established a base on the best spiritual land, but the magical energy in Mount Enzo was too powerful and too dangerous to be used as a place to raise the next generation of magicians. Therefore, they built a house on the second spiritual vein, which is now the Tohsaka Mansion.

This mountain already possessed powerful magic, but tonight several extraordinary magical forces have appeared.

Without a doubt, the enemy is waiting for Shirou at Ryudouji Temple.

Avanger, Archer, and Saber.

"Saber and Archer's magical reactions aren't near the Greater Grail... What should we do next? Should we dive straight into the underground cavern?"

The silver-haired, red-eyed android asked.

As the Lesser Grail, she can sense the state of the area around the Greater Grail altar (the remains of the Winter Maiden) to a certain extent.

Shirou's guess was correct.

Although it's unclear why the other party would abandon the Greater Grail and go to the mountaintop instead, it certainly presents an opportunity.

"No, then we might end up in a situation where we're attacked from both sides... I don't think the enemy will let us get close to the Greater Grail."

Shirou shook his head and said, "I will go and meet the enemy."

Taking advantage of this opening, Irisviel and Assassin went to destroy the Greater Grail.

"This is too much of a burden for Shirou..."

Hassan, hidden in the darkness, spoke, and Irisviel nodded solemnly.

"There's no other way; we're short-handed. Assassin, Irisviel is in your care now."

"If you guys can successfully dismantle the Greater Grail, I might not have to fight Archer and Saber."

"I understand." Hassan accepted Shirou's arrangement.

"Wait! What about my opinion?"